Marle villagers boycott polling

The polling booth at Marle-Tirval, Canacona taluka, wears a deserted look on Tuesday.

NT NETWORK

Canacona

For the first time in the history of Canacona taluka, no voter of Marle-Tirval exercised their franchise as a mark of protest against unfulfilled demands.

Villagers of Marle-Tirval stood their ground, boycotting the polling to highlight the absence of basic amenities.

The polling booth wore a deserted look throughout the day as 221 eligible voters opted not to vote. An elderly citizen said the boycott was the only option left with the people to voice their demands for a tarred road, regular supply of electricity and water and provision of healthcare facilities.

“Although some politicians and government officials had urged us to refrain from the poll boycott, we did not get positive assurances from the government at all,” a villager
said.

The polling booth recorded the voting of 15 voters who were on election duty including the booth-level officer.